Why You Should Take a Day Trip to Girona From Barcelona, Spain

Girona is 100km north of Barcelona city in the Costa Brava region of Catalonia, Spain. I heard great things about this small city when I was living in Barcelona. Home to Game of Thrones filming locations, medieval architecture and world class food. It seemed like a wasted opportunity if I didn’t take a day trip to Girona!

Getting to Girona

Buy a train ticket on the Renfe website or at the ticket booth in Barcelona Sants station. Tickets cost around €26 return, and the journey lasts 40 minutes. Short travel time makes a day trip to Girona even better.

Alternatively, you can take the bus from Barcelona Nord bus station to Girona for €25 return. The journey takes 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Or why not make a road trip trip out of it? My two friends and I rented a car in the centre of Barcelona and drove north along Costa Brava. We stopped at a few places along the way like Aiguablava, and made Girona our final stop. It cost around €25 each for the day rental.

Things to do in a day trip to Girona

La Cathedral de Girona

I was happy enough admiring the Cathedral outside without paying €7 for entry. It all depends on your budget.

Fun Fact: This stunning 11th century church as well as other spots in Girona have appeared in Game of Thrones as Braavos. Look out for it in season 6!

Passeig de la Muralla

Girona has experienced 25 sieges, so it makes sense why they built these huge medieval walls.

Bring walking shoes! There’s a really long path along the old walls where you can marvel at the beautiful view of the city and the surrounding mountains. It’s the number one attraction to visit on Tripadvisor, and free!

Tip: Find the staircase at the back of the Cathedral.

Jewish Quarter

Stroll through the cobbled streets of the Jewish quarter to experience the historic ambience. Many scenes from Game of Thrones were filmed here, at locations such as Carrer de la Claveria and the steps of Sant Martí.

You can also find the Jewish museum which displays the morbid history and remnants of the Jewish community. Entry to the museum costs €4 but it’s free on the first Sunday of each month.

Onyar River

If you’re looking for a pinturesque photo opportunity, walk across the bridge which leads into Girona’s old city. The bridge crosses over the trickle river Onyar with dull pale autumn-shade houses on either side. I genuinely did love the look of the houses along the river, but thanks to social media, expectations vs. reality may be a let down for some. Visit on a sunny day if you can.

Other Simple Ideas

Plazas

Like every city in Spain, Girona has a lot of plazas. Take a caña (beer), enjoy authentic tapas and relax.

Devesa Park

Bring a picnic or some wine, and chill out in Devesa Park. It’s on the other side of the bridge opposite to the old city.

Try world class gelato

Eat some gelato in Rocambolesc Gelateria. The three Roca brothers are some of the top chefs in the world, who run El Celler de Can Roca, the world’s second-best sell-your-kidney-to-pay-for-a-meal-kinda restaurant. The ice cream shop is run by one of the brothers, Jordi Roca, the Willy Wonka of ice cream.

Day Trip or Short Break?

Girona is a small city which means you can see the main sites within a day. Once you cross the bridge into the old city, there isn’t much to see apart from the architecture. Personally, I think a day trip to Girona is substantial.

However, if you have more time and want an escape from the big city of Barcelona, Girona is the perfect place to take it slow and relax for a couple days. You decide!

Awesome! I’ve been only to Barcelona in Spain! So thanks for this virtual tour. The architecture of the city does look stunning and the Cathedral looks gorgeous! Isn’t this the street where Cersei Lannister takes the walk of shame?

You should visit Girona the next time you go! Yeah, I thought it was that exact street and my friends and I shouted shame at each other while walking through it haha. But then I later read that the street is actually in Dubrovnik, Croatia which I was unaware of. The two streets look really similar!

About Me

Welcome to Journey with Chloe!
My name is Chloe and I'm a Northern Irish travel and mindfulness blogger. On Journey with Chloe, I share travel tips and experiences as well as advice on veganism, health and mindfulness to inspire your own inner and outer journey.